According to an Elmhurst Memorial news release, each year in the U.S., about 250,000 people have a STEMI, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to immediately restore blood flow, either by surgically opening the blocked vessel or by giving clot-busting medication.

Elmhurst Memorial earned the Mission: Lifeline Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI patients to open the blocked artery, the release said.

Before patients are discharged, they are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, and they receive smoking cessation counseling if needed. Eligible hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for a designated period to receive the awards, according to the release.